Land Administration
Since gaining independence from Soviet rule, Uzbekistan has shifted towards private ownership of urban or non-agricultural land, with most land now held under different types of leaseholds. Housing, particularly in urban areas, is predominantly privately owned. The land administration system in Uzbekistan is a subject of ongoing reform, with initiatives aimed at improving the effectiveness of state ownership of land, the consolidation of agricultural land, and the development of an agricultural land market.
Energy
Since 2021, the Namangan region has been undergoing a significant transition in its energy sector, including the development of a large-scale solar project known as the Namangan Site Solar PV Park, spanning over 700 hectares. These initiatives form part of Uzbekistan’s broader energy sector reforms, aiming to shift from a government-owned and operated energy sector model to competitive markets in gas, oil, and electricity. .
Housing
The housing sector in Uzbekistan faces several challenges, including affordability, supply, and quality issues. According to the Asian Development Bank, much of the urban housing stock is aging and poorly maintained, with insufficient supply to meet the growing demand due to demographic growth and increasing rural to urban migration. State ownership of urban land has acted as a disincentive for the construction of additional housing units, resulting in a low yearly construction rate of 1.9 units per 1,000 people. Housing affordability compounds the problem, especially in Namangan, where GDP per capita lags behind the Uzbekistan average by 49%. Housing difficulties are especially pronounced in rural areas of Namangan, prompting targeted interventions through the government’s national affordable housing program. The government aims to increase the volume of housing construction by 1.5 times compared to the previous year.
Disaster Risk Management
Effective disaster risk management is critical in Uzbekistan, a region susceptible to various natural hazards, including flooding, earthquakes, drought, landslides and extreme heat. For example, over half of the population and economy are situated in areas highly susceptible to seismic activity, posing a significant threat to developmental gains and the livelihoods of communities in Uzbekistan. These risks are compounded by factors such as rapid urbanization, aging infrastructure, and population growth, intensifying overall exposure and vulnerability to disasters. Since 1997, the Government of Uzbekistan has made significant progress in disaster risk management, transitioning from a reactive approach focused on emergency responses to a proactive strategy aimed at mitigating disaster risks. In 2006, the Government of Uzbekistan adopted the State Program on Earthquake Risk Reduction, complemented by the 2011 Program on the Preparedness of the Population to Respond to Emergency Situations Caused by Earthquakes.
Drinking Water Supply
As of 2021, Namangan faced significant challenges with its drinking water supply and quality, with numerous households lacking connections to the centralized water supply system. In recent years, the government of Uzbekistan has partnered with a number of international financial institutions, including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and European Investment Bank, which have committed more than USD 3 billion to the rehabilitation of water and wastewater infrastructure across the country. Moreover, the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has recently provided funding for the construction of critical water infrastructure in seven rural settlements in the Namangan region, which is expected to increase the number of people connected to safe water by 280,000. Additionally, the Improvement of Water Supply in Yangikurgan District and the City of Namangan Project, launched in 2020 and spearheaded by the Uzbekistan Ministry of Housing and Communal Services, aims to replace and rebuild water supply infrastructure in these areas, benefiting approximately 185,000 people in these communities.
Urban Roads & Transport
Public transportation in Namangan primarily consists of buses, trams and shared taxis train connections, which are more biased towards major cities. To address this concern, a World Bank initiative has provided support to Almalyk, Bukhara, Namangan, Nukus, and Samarkand. The initiative focuses on improving public transport services, enhancing vehicle management and maintenance, introducing competitive bidding for bus route franchises, and planning urban transport systems. Consistent with the Namangan Regional Development Strategy (2022-2030), the city intends to invest in key transport infrastructure, with a particular emphasis on road and rail projects. However, despite Namangan’s expressed interest in developing green urban transport corridors (GUTC) and expanding the fleet of electric buses, no financial commitments have been made toward these initiatives.
Solid Waste Management
Solid Waste Management Strategy for the period 2019-2028 and Zero Waste principles, as outlined in a presidential decree issued on May 31, 2023 as some solid waste management strategies in Uzbekistan. Additionally, the Sustainable Solid Waste Management Project, funded by the Asian Development Bank, is working to strengthen institutional capacity for solid waste management. The project also focuses on raising public awareness and fostering community participation in waste reduction and recycling across cities and regions in Uzbekistan, including Namangan. As part of these efforts, Namangan has received additional waste collection vehicles, bins, and a modular service center for vehicle maintenance.
Local Administration
Uzbekistan operates as a unitary presidential republic, with a subnational two-tier system involving elected local councils and appointed local state executive governments. The outline of responsibilities for local state administration is specified in the 1993 Law on Local State Governments and the 1999 Law on Self-Government Bodies (revised in 2013). Under the administrative reforms initiated in 2004, many responsibilities were transferred to local authorities, such as environmental protection, cultural and historic preservation, urban development and the provision of utilities and other services, However, Uzbekistan is still characterized by a relatively high degree of centralization in decision-making.